SOUTHWICK - What could have been a momentous shift in the points chase ended up being one of the most valiant efforts seen on the motocross track in some time.

After winning the first moto of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross 450 Class, Ryan Dungey did not start the second moto on time, as his crew was unable to fire up the No. 1 Suzuki. They fixed the electronical problem in time to start nearly a full lap down in the 40-rider field.

Dungey, who clinched the series title here last year, displayed his championship form by driving from 40th to seventh, finishing third overall in the Rockstar Energy Southwick National Saturday at Motocross 338.

Brett Metcalfe, Dungey's teammate, finished third and second in the two motos to claim his first career overall win. Points leader Ryan Villopoto placed second overall but could only increase his lead by a single point, thanks to Dungey's mad scramble.

"Growing up as a kid, my parents both taught me not to quit," Dungey, 21, said. "As much as I wanted to take my helmet off and chuck it (while waiting for the bike), my mom told me not to do it."

A year ago, Tyla Rattray won the 250 Class race just hours after the birth of his first child. The South African commemorated his daughter's first birthday by repeating his feat from 364 days prior.

The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women's Motocross Championship event saw points leader Ashley Fiolek prevail after her archrival, Jessica Patterson, crashed in the first moto. The top two female riders in the country split victories in the two motos.

It looked as though Villopoto, who entered the day with a seven-point cushion over Dungey, would increase that lead significantly when Dungey was at the starting gate for the second moto without a bike. Villopoto finished second in the moto, but Dungey made sure he stayed in the championship hunt with two rounds remaining.

"I just tried to salvage as many points as I could to limit the damage," Dungey said, crediting his team for its hard work. "It was the difference of starting the race or not starting at all."

Dungey rode to a commanding victory over Villopoto in the first moto, followed by Metcalfe. The Australian took advantage of Dungey's mishap to win the overall by placing second in the final moto, which was won by Justin Barcia.

The overall win was sweet vindication for Metcalfe, who was leading Dungey in last year's first moto before running out of gas on the final lap.

"I'm a winner now," Metcalfe said to the hoots and applause of family standing in the back of the media tent. "It's a big emotional roller coaster, this whole career, motocross in general."

Rattray, who won the second moto by nearly 30 seconds, missed out on a clean sweep after missing a gear shift while leading the first. That allowed fellow South African Gareth Swanepoel (third overall) to get by him for the victory.

Mechanical trouble at AMA Motocross Southwick NationalThe Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki team tries desperately to get Ryan Dungey's bike ready for the second moto of the 450 Class at the AMA Southwick National. Dungey had to start almost a full lap down but rallied to finish seventh.

"Daddy wins again, so that's cool," Rattray said, referring to his memorable day a year ago.

Dean Wilson again used consistency to hang onto the points lead. He placed third and second to grab No. 2 overall and make it an all-foreigner podium. The Scotsman is still the leader despite winning only one overall this season.

The on-and-off rains, the leading edge of the fast-approaching Hurricane Irene, made for maddening track conditions. The first 450 moto provided an ideal course, while increasing rains made the 1.3-mile layout a quagmire for the middle portion of the events.

"I've never raced in a hurricane before," Wilson said. "The rain was just pouring off my jersey. It was pretty crazy."

Fiolek fended off a hard-charging Tara Geiger to win the first moto by just over two seconds, but Patterson rallied back in the second to best Fiolek by nearly a minute. Geiger was No. 2 overall.